Mayors need to be the first, who will welcome refugees with “warmth, shelter and accommodation,” Rome mayor Virginia Raggi told an immigration summit of European city. The statement was made just days after neighbors, shouting “We do not want these n*****s,” prevented a Moroccan family from moving into a council flat in Rome, given to them by the authorities.

“Our cities seem to be closed off with their self-interest and the mayors are the ones who should give the first reception,” Raggi said. “We must guarantee human warmth, shelter, accommodation.”

She also added that the attitude that has been seen “offends our dignity as mayors and people.”

“For this we must take action, even more in the suburbs, which are the most abandoned parts of the city, where there is a risk of a war between the poor,” the Rome mayor noted.

Raggi pointed out that there is a very fragile situation between the impoverished locals and refugees in the suburbs of the Italian capital. According to her this means that battles between the two groups are imminent.

“In Rome, we are trying to provide stability with temporary shelters and tents. We want everyone to have a roof over their heads,” the Rome mayor said. “Rome is working hard to respect the dignity of people. We are historically open to reception and we want to continue.”

She also added that rich Western countries are responsible for the largest migrant crisis since the Second World War.

“The behavior of the richest countries, the prevalence of individual interests, the exploitation of natural resources, and the globalization – all of this has made many poor countries the subject of conquest,” Raggi said.

This year, Italy has faced the largest increase in migrant arrivals to Europe, after a deal between the EU and Turkey was made, according to which migrants were headed to Italy instead of Greece.

Yesterday, Italy held the EU to ransom after refusing to back a change to the bloc’s budget up to 2020, claiming that the state does not have enough money to tackle the migrant crisis, which has had an enormous impact on the country.